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DI Barton #2
La morte non aspetta
Come si arriva alla verità quando tutti i testimoni sono morti?
Dall’autore del bestseller Il killer della neve
Fino a dove può spingersi un criminale che si crede Dio?
Una serie di morti all’apparenza scollegate tra loro tiene impegnato il detective Barton. Quando una prova incastra un sospettato, subito consegnato alla giustizia, sembra giunto il momento di tirare un sospiro di sollievo. Ma gli omicidi, invece di fermarsi, continuano… E molti di essi sembrano ruotare intorno alla famiglia di una giovane donna, Claudia Birtwhistle, fidanzata con un detective della squadra di Barton. Una traccia comincia a delinearsi e pare condurre a un’ipotesi inquietante: un assassino spietato che crede di poter fare le veci di Dio e che non teme la morte. Riuscirà il detective Barton a fermarlo?
Dall’autore del bestseller Il killer della neve
Fino a dove può spingersi un criminale che si crede Dio?
Una serie di morti all’apparenza scollegate tra loro tiene impegnato il detective Barton. Quando una prova incastra un sospettato, subito consegnato alla giustizia, sembra giunto il momento di tirare un sospiro di sollievo. Ma gli omicidi, invece di fermarsi, continuano… E molti di essi sembrano ruotare intorno alla famiglia di una giovane donna, Claudia Birtwhistle, fidanzata con un detective della squadra di Barton. Una traccia comincia a delinearsi e pare condurre a un’ipotesi inquietante: un assassino spietato che crede di poter fare le veci di Dio e che non teme la morte. Riuscirà il detective Barton a fermarlo?
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2020
574 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
About the author
Ross Greenwood
33 books553 followersI was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.
I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.
Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.
I've now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.
The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.
Abel's Revenge is something a bit different. It's a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There's a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.
Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women's side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won't have read a book like it.
I hope you enjoy reading them.
Please feel free to get in touch.
https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoo...
I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.
Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.
I've now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.
The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.
Abel's Revenge is something a bit different. It's a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There's a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.
Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women's side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won't have read a book like it.
I hope you enjoy reading them.
Please feel free to get in touch.
https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoo...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
April 10, 2020
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Ross Greenwood, and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Returning for the second novel in this new series, I place my trust in Ross Greenwood to deliver something with as much punch as the debut book. Things are definitely different than the first time we encountered DI John Barton, but it is up to the reader to decide if they enjoy the ride. Years ago, a young boy lives under the watchful eye of his mother, a woman who has tried to put the fear of God into her son. She accepts no frills in life and is happy to punish him severely by tossing him into a cellar for long periods of time. This creates a young man who sees the world as one where sinners need to be punished, knowing that as long as he repents his sins, he will be able to rest peacefully in the afterlife. This still unnamed young man heads off to university, where he is put through trials and tribulations, only to see his anger rise slowly and his target become clearer. Moving to the present, DI John Barton and the rest of his Major Crime team attend the funeral of one of their own, lost in the field when another serial killer has exacted revenge. Barton hopes for a quiet Christmas, seeking to soak up all the time with his family that might be possible. When a member of the team is called to the scene of an apparent suicide, Barton later attends to substantiate the case; an old man who was dying chose to hang himself. In the background, the killer watches as his kills help him feel a sense of relief against those who would try to block him from feeling happiness. The dead man turns out to be the father of the killer’s girlfriend, and he hopes this will bring them closer, but she burrows away to be with her sister and brother-in-law. Wanting to push away any impediments to his happiness, the brother-in-law is next to go, but it is made to look like a drowning. From there, more killings, all apparently innocent accidents pile up, until Barton comes upon a skeleton hidden under a compost heap. The pieces begin to come together and murder becomes a word bandied about a little more freely. With the killer on the ropes, he begins what he feels is right, admitting that he might have been at the scene of a few of these accidents, but refuses to admit they were acts of aggression or murder. While repentance to a version of events might set him free, the fact that he is a cop within Major Crimes might turn his entire team against him, if they can find him. Greenwood does a masterful job at setting the scene in this piece, showing just how devious the game of cat and mouse can be. Recommended to those who enjoy a police procedural where both sides are constantly in search for one another, as well as the reader who enjoys getting inside the killer’s head.
I thoroughly enjoyed Greenwood’s debut and was pleased when I could get my hands on this one as well. He is able to tell a story effectively and with the added narrative touches that pull the reader in from the opening chapters. DI JOhn Barton is a great quasi-protagonist in this piece, offering leadership within Major Crimes while also balancing a busy home life. He is determined to get through the red tape and will not suffer fools. Forced to shepherd some of the newer recruits, Barton offers sage advice while not appearing to favour anyone. The cast of supporting characters does well to keep the reader entertain and enthralled, from cops to witnesses, and even the killer. The killer does comes across as being quite the odd character in the bigger scheme of things, acting in many ways one might not expect a person who has committed so many crimes. That said, there is a certain eeriness to him that makes the reader want to know more. Pacing out the crimes before squealing on himself at times seems an odd choice, but one that works well. Greenwood’s writing pushes the story forward and keeps the reader guessing, with two parallels narratives from Barton and the killer’s perspectives. They cross intermittently and the reveals throughout give the reader some sense of how things will come together, though there are enough twists to keep any spoilers at bay. After a slow start, the book picked up momentum and the short chapters push the story forward, as the reader wants to read ‘just a little more’. I am happy to see that Greenwood has more in store for his cast of characters, as I am eager to go on another adventure in the greater Peterborough area of England.
Kudos, Mr. Greenwood for another winner. I like the unique flavour you bring to your writing and this series looks to be getting better as things move forward.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Returning for the second novel in this new series, I place my trust in Ross Greenwood to deliver something with as much punch as the debut book. Things are definitely different than the first time we encountered DI John Barton, but it is up to the reader to decide if they enjoy the ride. Years ago, a young boy lives under the watchful eye of his mother, a woman who has tried to put the fear of God into her son. She accepts no frills in life and is happy to punish him severely by tossing him into a cellar for long periods of time. This creates a young man who sees the world as one where sinners need to be punished, knowing that as long as he repents his sins, he will be able to rest peacefully in the afterlife. This still unnamed young man heads off to university, where he is put through trials and tribulations, only to see his anger rise slowly and his target become clearer. Moving to the present, DI John Barton and the rest of his Major Crime team attend the funeral of one of their own, lost in the field when another serial killer has exacted revenge. Barton hopes for a quiet Christmas, seeking to soak up all the time with his family that might be possible. When a member of the team is called to the scene of an apparent suicide, Barton later attends to substantiate the case; an old man who was dying chose to hang himself. In the background, the killer watches as his kills help him feel a sense of relief against those who would try to block him from feeling happiness. The dead man turns out to be the father of the killer’s girlfriend, and he hopes this will bring them closer, but she burrows away to be with her sister and brother-in-law. Wanting to push away any impediments to his happiness, the brother-in-law is next to go, but it is made to look like a drowning. From there, more killings, all apparently innocent accidents pile up, until Barton comes upon a skeleton hidden under a compost heap. The pieces begin to come together and murder becomes a word bandied about a little more freely. With the killer on the ropes, he begins what he feels is right, admitting that he might have been at the scene of a few of these accidents, but refuses to admit they were acts of aggression or murder. While repentance to a version of events might set him free, the fact that he is a cop within Major Crimes might turn his entire team against him, if they can find him. Greenwood does a masterful job at setting the scene in this piece, showing just how devious the game of cat and mouse can be. Recommended to those who enjoy a police procedural where both sides are constantly in search for one another, as well as the reader who enjoys getting inside the killer’s head.
I thoroughly enjoyed Greenwood’s debut and was pleased when I could get my hands on this one as well. He is able to tell a story effectively and with the added narrative touches that pull the reader in from the opening chapters. DI JOhn Barton is a great quasi-protagonist in this piece, offering leadership within Major Crimes while also balancing a busy home life. He is determined to get through the red tape and will not suffer fools. Forced to shepherd some of the newer recruits, Barton offers sage advice while not appearing to favour anyone. The cast of supporting characters does well to keep the reader entertain and enthralled, from cops to witnesses, and even the killer. The killer does comes across as being quite the odd character in the bigger scheme of things, acting in many ways one might not expect a person who has committed so many crimes. That said, there is a certain eeriness to him that makes the reader want to know more. Pacing out the crimes before squealing on himself at times seems an odd choice, but one that works well. Greenwood’s writing pushes the story forward and keeps the reader guessing, with two parallels narratives from Barton and the killer’s perspectives. They cross intermittently and the reveals throughout give the reader some sense of how things will come together, though there are enough twists to keep any spoilers at bay. After a slow start, the book picked up momentum and the short chapters push the story forward, as the reader wants to read ‘just a little more’. I am happy to see that Greenwood has more in store for his cast of characters, as I am eager to go on another adventure in the greater Peterborough area of England.
Kudos, Mr. Greenwood for another winner. I like the unique flavour you bring to your writing and this series looks to be getting better as things move forward.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 1, 2020
The Soul Killer by Ross Greenwood is a solid, if somewhat uninspiring, police procedural that did not fully engage me until about 70%. From then on it was really quite good. I can see how some people would really enjoy this but it just didn’t grab me.
The opening chapters were from the killer’s perspective. His childhood was unpleasant and his mother’s religious views confused the boy. These views were later twisted to rationalise his urge to kill, not terribly original. Although what the author did really well was make you able to feel sorry for the killer at times. He seemed very confused about the meaning of life and the concept of heaven.. The police officers were pleasant but not stand out characters and I couldn’t help wondering if they would ever catch this killer.. The story was very readable but not particularly memorable. Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the author for my review copy.
The opening chapters were from the killer’s perspective. His childhood was unpleasant and his mother’s religious views confused the boy. These views were later twisted to rationalise his urge to kill, not terribly original. Although what the author did really well was make you able to feel sorry for the killer at times. He seemed very confused about the meaning of life and the concept of heaven.. The police officers were pleasant but not stand out characters and I couldn’t help wondering if they would ever catch this killer.. The story was very readable but not particularly memorable. Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the author for my review copy.
January 16, 2023
4.25 Stars — Ross Greenwood’s unique, contemporary suspense-laden Crime Thriller is every bit as good as the series first novel — The Snow Killer — In pretty much every way. Sure, it may offer a more mundane opening chapter or so, as well as being stripped of the originality of it’s predecessor — through no fault of its own — based purely on the fact that DI Barton’s second entry is just that, the second entry. Therefore the extremely engaging and somewhat unique dual-alternating-perspectives of DI Barton & ‘The Killer’, alternating chapter to chapter in non-sequential order, is therefore no longer a surprise and loses a teeny bit of ‘wow’ factor.
But what it loses in the aforementioned, it gains in slickness and poignancy, with Greenwood now really finding his comfort in this rotating-narrator style. Each chapter reads as a cliff-edge fall into the abyss of the Criminal mind and we can get a clear insight into the Killers psyche and decide for ourselves what specifically has lead them there and also to cogitate on how it could’ve been prevented.
The format of the novel also changes something by else. It makes the novel a far far more alluring and utterly enthralling audiobook experience. This is due to the obvious, but is brought to reality incredibly well by the quite frankly BRILLIANT David Thorpe, who steals the show and makes it impossible to return to the novel without at least reading using his powers of delivery in all roles. I hate to harp on it but now that I’ve returned to The Snow Killer in full via audiobook as well, Thorpe does such a stellar job with DI Barton, but especially the Killers that it’s quite breathtaking when you take a step back. The characters become even more captivating and alive on a visceral and emotional level it’s a thrill one cannot turn away from.
DI Barton returns for another go around, in his own rather mundanely-joyful manner, chasing a Killer that’s as dangerous as the Snow Killer and perhaps even more cunning and deranged. The author does a sound job of building tension through bringing the Killer and their psyche to life, clearly showcasing what’s lead them to where they are and like it’s debut novel, The Soul Killer is dripping with charisma, relatability and a solemn-spirit that creates the odd vibe whereby the reader feels for the killer at the same time as rooting for DI Barton and his team because they’re so.. well, good!
This is not at all easy to do, but Greenwoods real next-level strength and ability is in doing it all in a way that’s not at all ‘too clever’ or remotely pretentious whilst continually escalating the suspense, throwing curveballs & creating gasps right to the end. This series is on another plane to most Crime Thrillers, in its entirety maintaining the balance of good vs evil and of suspenseful power without ever crossing over into a gimmick, a cheap sell or even an easy win. It stuns me that this hasn’t been made into a series yet — I can imagine Jed Mercurio turning this into a show of Line of Duty level awesomeness! It has everything, is intelligently simple, has numerous crescendo’s and elaborate mapping, and would translate well to TV because there’s not a lot of what you’d consider ‘expensive’ narrative that would rule it un-doable!
This isn’t a cross of Literary Fiction and Crime Fiction like something from SA Cosby or Percival Everett, but it is incredibly good suspenseful crime thriller writing with a prose that’s nimble and consistent.
DI Barton has his hands full, and most of his team return here in fine form, inc an adversary that’s truly threatening and jarringly likeable — given how inherently evil they are — And it is a tension built around the quintessential suspense themes, done well and with a touch of panache. Unfortunately, there are a small (very) handful of shallow we say ‘eeek’ or cringe moments — that are entirely the exception not the rule, in which can — as with 90% of crime thrillers — easily be glossed over by the gripping nature of the narrative and the likability of the characters. By moments I mean the literal version, brief and in some sense ‘cinematic’ in intent that lane less than flat ergo the odd word in over-description or to over-clarify hence coming across tacky and unnecessary. But overall they can be forgiven and knock off a superfluous, mere 0.25 off of the rating — because even if rated 4.50 I’d of round-down to four so it’s not impacting but it is worth noting. It’s almost like the whole gimmicky-feel of the title, but I believe this impacts far more negatively in a perception sense than anything else and costs perhaps more serious and literary inclined readers from ever considering this series which is a shame as the title — in my humble opinion — is likely due to the first novel initially being a standalone and conversely the natural Knick-on being the second novel when conceived, created the series theme and ‘gimmick’ — But this is no gimmicky and/or mundane thriller, this is a class-act up and down, left and right — I’ll battle anyone whom dates disagree… 😊
I’m looking forward to the next instalment ‘The Ice Killer’ that much I’ve already started it.
Read if you like: The Snow Killer (der), Murder Bag.
Cross-Between: Raven Black & Last house on Needless St.
But what it loses in the aforementioned, it gains in slickness and poignancy, with Greenwood now really finding his comfort in this rotating-narrator style. Each chapter reads as a cliff-edge fall into the abyss of the Criminal mind and we can get a clear insight into the Killers psyche and decide for ourselves what specifically has lead them there and also to cogitate on how it could’ve been prevented.
The format of the novel also changes something by else. It makes the novel a far far more alluring and utterly enthralling audiobook experience. This is due to the obvious, but is brought to reality incredibly well by the quite frankly BRILLIANT David Thorpe, who steals the show and makes it impossible to return to the novel without at least reading using his powers of delivery in all roles. I hate to harp on it but now that I’ve returned to The Snow Killer in full via audiobook as well, Thorpe does such a stellar job with DI Barton, but especially the Killers that it’s quite breathtaking when you take a step back. The characters become even more captivating and alive on a visceral and emotional level it’s a thrill one cannot turn away from.
DI Barton returns for another go around, in his own rather mundanely-joyful manner, chasing a Killer that’s as dangerous as the Snow Killer and perhaps even more cunning and deranged. The author does a sound job of building tension through bringing the Killer and their psyche to life, clearly showcasing what’s lead them to where they are and like it’s debut novel, The Soul Killer is dripping with charisma, relatability and a solemn-spirit that creates the odd vibe whereby the reader feels for the killer at the same time as rooting for DI Barton and his team because they’re so.. well, good!
This is not at all easy to do, but Greenwoods real next-level strength and ability is in doing it all in a way that’s not at all ‘too clever’ or remotely pretentious whilst continually escalating the suspense, throwing curveballs & creating gasps right to the end. This series is on another plane to most Crime Thrillers, in its entirety maintaining the balance of good vs evil and of suspenseful power without ever crossing over into a gimmick, a cheap sell or even an easy win. It stuns me that this hasn’t been made into a series yet — I can imagine Jed Mercurio turning this into a show of Line of Duty level awesomeness! It has everything, is intelligently simple, has numerous crescendo’s and elaborate mapping, and would translate well to TV because there’s not a lot of what you’d consider ‘expensive’ narrative that would rule it un-doable!
This isn’t a cross of Literary Fiction and Crime Fiction like something from SA Cosby or Percival Everett, but it is incredibly good suspenseful crime thriller writing with a prose that’s nimble and consistent.
DI Barton has his hands full, and most of his team return here in fine form, inc an adversary that’s truly threatening and jarringly likeable — given how inherently evil they are — And it is a tension built around the quintessential suspense themes, done well and with a touch of panache. Unfortunately, there are a small (very) handful of shallow we say ‘eeek’ or cringe moments — that are entirely the exception not the rule, in which can — as with 90% of crime thrillers — easily be glossed over by the gripping nature of the narrative and the likability of the characters. By moments I mean the literal version, brief and in some sense ‘cinematic’ in intent that lane less than flat ergo the odd word in over-description or to over-clarify hence coming across tacky and unnecessary. But overall they can be forgiven and knock off a superfluous, mere 0.25 off of the rating — because even if rated 4.50 I’d of round-down to four so it’s not impacting but it is worth noting. It’s almost like the whole gimmicky-feel of the title, but I believe this impacts far more negatively in a perception sense than anything else and costs perhaps more serious and literary inclined readers from ever considering this series which is a shame as the title — in my humble opinion — is likely due to the first novel initially being a standalone and conversely the natural Knick-on being the second novel when conceived, created the series theme and ‘gimmick’ — But this is no gimmicky and/or mundane thriller, this is a class-act up and down, left and right — I’ll battle anyone whom dates disagree… 😊
I’m looking forward to the next instalment ‘The Ice Killer’ that much I’ve already started it.
Read if you like: The Snow Killer (der), Murder Bag.
Cross-Between: Raven Black & Last house on Needless St.
July 13, 2022
Well I was warned that the sequel isn't as good as the original and sadly they were right. You got a lot of the same themes returning here:
- people with only days/weeks/months to live due to illness
- split narrative between the murderer and lead detective
- murderer with deteriorating self control
- lead detective completely clueless until the end
So why isn't it as good? I just think the murderer's driving force in the original was way more gripping. This guy seems like a whiney buffoon who makes way too many mistakes, but somehow manages to keep evading arrest. His whole reason for killing was on shakey ground from the beginning and just got worse over time. The reader needs to like (I don't know a better word for it) the murderer for the story to work well.
I also think the original was a perfect length. This one is a bit longer when it didn't need to be. They could have easily edited it down to around the same length to keep it more engaging. The third entry is even longer. Yikes! I'll still check it out, but this is turning into a bad trend. Longer doesn't mean better!
----------------------
Minor spoiler below
----------------------
One of the good characters does something illegal and the police brushes it under the rug like it never happened. That's just not realistic. I don't care how well liked someone is, a crime is a crime. That left a sour feeling with me.
- people with only days/weeks/months to live due to illness
- split narrative between the murderer and lead detective
- murderer with deteriorating self control
- lead detective completely clueless until the end
So why isn't it as good? I just think the murderer's driving force in the original was way more gripping. This guy seems like a whiney buffoon who makes way too many mistakes, but somehow manages to keep evading arrest. His whole reason for killing was on shakey ground from the beginning and just got worse over time. The reader needs to like (I don't know a better word for it) the murderer for the story to work well.
I also think the original was a perfect length. This one is a bit longer when it didn't need to be. They could have easily edited it down to around the same length to keep it more engaging. The third entry is even longer. Yikes! I'll still check it out, but this is turning into a bad trend. Longer doesn't mean better!
----------------------
Minor spoiler below
----------------------
One of the good characters does something illegal and the police brushes it under the rug like it never happened. That's just not realistic. I don't care how well liked someone is, a crime is a crime. That left a sour feeling with me.
April 15, 2020
Having read and loved the first book in the DI Barton series, I wondered where the author would go next. Whilst the first book blew me away due to an unexpected twist, I have to say that this one has raised the bar even further. I wouldn’t say there was anything overly unexpected as in twists but then it does live up to it’s name of being a crime thriller. Wow! What a story!
The killer is one crazed nutter. Everything seems so straight forward in their head and god help anyone that gets in the way of stopping them from getting what they want. I wanted to scream at the characters, telling them to be careful but then where would be the fun if they listened?
This is one story you need to read it for yourself. To go into much detail would spoil it for others. I dare say that this will be one of Barton’s toughest and deadliest cases for a while to come but then who knows with this author. His books have come full circle from when he first started out.
The Soul Killer is a dark and enthralling read that had me constantly on the edge of my seat. I’m really enjoying this darker side to the author and it certainly suits him as the confidence in his writing totally awed me as I was taken under his spell and glued to the pages of the book. Not literally of course but I dare anyone to try and put it down for to long as I couldn’t devour it quick enough.
My thanks to Rachel’s Random Reads, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The killer is one crazed nutter. Everything seems so straight forward in their head and god help anyone that gets in the way of stopping them from getting what they want. I wanted to scream at the characters, telling them to be careful but then where would be the fun if they listened?
This is one story you need to read it for yourself. To go into much detail would spoil it for others. I dare say that this will be one of Barton’s toughest and deadliest cases for a while to come but then who knows with this author. His books have come full circle from when he first started out.
The Soul Killer is a dark and enthralling read that had me constantly on the edge of my seat. I’m really enjoying this darker side to the author and it certainly suits him as the confidence in his writing totally awed me as I was taken under his spell and glued to the pages of the book. Not literally of course but I dare anyone to try and put it down for to long as I couldn’t devour it quick enough.
My thanks to Rachel’s Random Reads, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
May 8, 2020
The Soul Killer is the second instalment in the Detective Inspector John Barton series based in and around the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, and boy does it really pack a powerful punch. I loved The Snow Killer but must say that the sequel is even better; it's a masterclass in thriller writing and therefore an absolute must-read for those who like their crime brutal and no-holds-barred. The story opens with an apparent suicide in which the victims family find it so hard to believe that they beg and implore the police to re-investigate and do so in a more thorough manner. The police do so to try to bring the family some peace and come to the same conclusion; there was no foul play involved and the case is once again closed much to the relatives’ dismay. But when a skeletonised body is discovered the police get the feeling that all is not what it seems and they begin a comprehensive investigation with DI Barton and colleagues at the helm. More and more accidental looking deaths come to light so who exactly is behind them and what is the motive for committing serial murder?
This is a compulsive and completely riveting thriller that'll score highly with fans of the genre provided you are not of faint heart. The way it is written sets it apart from many of the rest as the author alternates between the perspective of DI Barton and the unnamed killer, and I tend to always enjoy the murderer's point of view if it is done well as it is here. I flew through it soaking up the thrills, chills and spills that filled the pages. From the beginning, this is a captivating and wild ride with enough drama, danger and mystery to keep the fussiest reader entertained and engaged. There was perhaps a little too much going on at times, which can often be offputting, but this is such an addictive and well-written story that it wasn't a major problem for me. Going forward I hope Greenwood pares it back as he's a superb writer but appears to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into one novel when less is most definitely more. Overall, an entertaining read with great characterisation and a solid plot. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for an ARC.
This is a compulsive and completely riveting thriller that'll score highly with fans of the genre provided you are not of faint heart. The way it is written sets it apart from many of the rest as the author alternates between the perspective of DI Barton and the unnamed killer, and I tend to always enjoy the murderer's point of view if it is done well as it is here. I flew through it soaking up the thrills, chills and spills that filled the pages. From the beginning, this is a captivating and wild ride with enough drama, danger and mystery to keep the fussiest reader entertained and engaged. There was perhaps a little too much going on at times, which can often be offputting, but this is such an addictive and well-written story that it wasn't a major problem for me. Going forward I hope Greenwood pares it back as he's a superb writer but appears to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into one novel when less is most definitely more. Overall, an entertaining read with great characterisation and a solid plot. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for an ARC.
May 7, 2020
Ever wonder how a serial killer is made ... how his .. or her .. mind works .... what they really believe?
This one takes a young man from childhood to manhood .. becoming a serial killer who believes his future is worth more than your own. The killer relates some of the things that shape him ... and why he does the things he does.
A particular family is really having some bad luck. Twin sisters lost their father to a suicide by hanging. Even though the sisters insist that he wouldn't have done that, there's no evidence to say otherwise. And then later, the husband of one sister is found drowned.
Just bad luck? circumstance? accidents? murder?
DI Barton and his team are called in to investigate. When they determine that the drowning was murder, all clues point to one suspect. But the killing continue ... and the killer is closer than they think.
Two points of view .. the killer and Barton's ... make this an exceptional read. The killings intensify in their viciousness and Barton and his team race to find the killer before another body is discovered. Although second in the series, this one reads easily as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting with The Snow Killer. This one is a page-turner with non-stop twists and turns leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 8, 2020
THE SOUL KILLER is the second book in a British Crime Thriller Series by Ross Greenwood featuring Detective Inspector John Barton. This is the third novel I have read by this author, and I can see that it will be well received and appeal to a wide audience, as it combines many different genres. This novel can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the novels in sequence.
Novels in this DI Barton Series Include:
The Snow Killer (Book 1)
The Soul Killer (Book 2)
This story begins with a five-year-old boy, and how the abusive treatment by his mother shapes and establishes the foundation for him to develop from childhood to adult, and become a serial killer…The Soul Killer.
His mother, a religious fanatic, treated him badly, and struggled with affection and love. She had some strange ideas and views, and was always preaching to him dark thoughts. His mother disapproved of an Easter basket he brought home from school, and took it away from him. When he kicked her in anger, she opened a trapdoor under the dining room table and pushed him into a small black prison, for a period of time. It was this focus that made him understand, that he was capable of anything. He knew from then on that if he wanted special things, he needed to keep secrets.
‘Repent in this life, rejoice in the next…’
There was no TV in the house and his father left and later died of a heart attack when the boy was ten. In school, the boy was taunted by his classmates.
His mother would tell him that good people sometimes had to do bad things that would save their souls.
Fast forward to the present, and DI John Barton and the rest of his Major Crime team attend the funeral of one of their colleagues, killed by a serial killer. Then a member of the team is called to the scene of an apparent suicide, an old man who was dying chose to hang himself. The dead man turns out to be the father of the killer’s girlfriend, in order to bring her closer. Then the brother-in-law is killed, made to look like a drowning. A murder made to look like suicide. Another that appears an accident.
Everything points to one suspect!
Barton and his team move quickly, and once the killer is behind bars, they can all relax…but can they?
What I loved most about this novel was getting inside the mind of a serial killer. What made him tick? Why did he do the things he did? The point of view flips between the soul killer and the investigation cases. This added further depth to their character and made it more realistic and believable. I enjoyed the Snow Killer but I enjoyed this one more. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Novels in this DI Barton Series Include:
The Snow Killer (Book 1)
The Soul Killer (Book 2)
This story begins with a five-year-old boy, and how the abusive treatment by his mother shapes and establishes the foundation for him to develop from childhood to adult, and become a serial killer…The Soul Killer.
His mother, a religious fanatic, treated him badly, and struggled with affection and love. She had some strange ideas and views, and was always preaching to him dark thoughts. His mother disapproved of an Easter basket he brought home from school, and took it away from him. When he kicked her in anger, she opened a trapdoor under the dining room table and pushed him into a small black prison, for a period of time. It was this focus that made him understand, that he was capable of anything. He knew from then on that if he wanted special things, he needed to keep secrets.
‘Repent in this life, rejoice in the next…’
There was no TV in the house and his father left and later died of a heart attack when the boy was ten. In school, the boy was taunted by his classmates.
His mother would tell him that good people sometimes had to do bad things that would save their souls.
Fast forward to the present, and DI John Barton and the rest of his Major Crime team attend the funeral of one of their colleagues, killed by a serial killer. Then a member of the team is called to the scene of an apparent suicide, an old man who was dying chose to hang himself. The dead man turns out to be the father of the killer’s girlfriend, in order to bring her closer. Then the brother-in-law is killed, made to look like a drowning. A murder made to look like suicide. Another that appears an accident.
Everything points to one suspect!
Barton and his team move quickly, and once the killer is behind bars, they can all relax…but can they?
What I loved most about this novel was getting inside the mind of a serial killer. What made him tick? Why did he do the things he did? The point of view flips between the soul killer and the investigation cases. This added further depth to their character and made it more realistic and believable. I enjoyed the Snow Killer but I enjoyed this one more. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
March 28, 2020
419 pages
4 stars
This story is told from two points of view; from that of the killer and from the police point of view.
DI Barton and his team are hoping for a quiet Christmas. Their hopes are dashed when, on Christmas Day, Barton gets a call about a suspicious suicide. The elderly cancer suffer's daughters insist that he would not do that. Then the team gets orders from on high to prioritize the case.
Odd deaths begin to multiply. Slowly, a thought begins to form in Barton's mind. When he pitches it to his team, they ponder and seem to give credence to his idea. They settle on the suspect and track him.
There are some pretty good surprises in this book. The language and plotting of this book is very good. It does read a little slowly, though. I guess I like my police procedurals to have a little more action. I liked Barton and his relationship with his family. I like that he put his family so high on his list of priorities. I enjoyed his team as well. I liked the occasional teasing and bantering that went on among them.
I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4 stars
This story is told from two points of view; from that of the killer and from the police point of view.
DI Barton and his team are hoping for a quiet Christmas. Their hopes are dashed when, on Christmas Day, Barton gets a call about a suspicious suicide. The elderly cancer suffer's daughters insist that he would not do that. Then the team gets orders from on high to prioritize the case.
Odd deaths begin to multiply. Slowly, a thought begins to form in Barton's mind. When he pitches it to his team, they ponder and seem to give credence to his idea. They settle on the suspect and track him.
There are some pretty good surprises in this book. The language and plotting of this book is very good. It does read a little slowly, though. I guess I like my police procedurals to have a little more action. I liked Barton and his relationship with his family. I like that he put his family so high on his list of priorities. I enjoyed his team as well. I liked the occasional teasing and bantering that went on among them.
I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
August 10, 2023
This author comes up with some really interesting storylines! A religions based killer isn't exactly new but the odd values he was raised with, inadvertently bringing into adulthood and still not really knowing what he believed made for really good character building. and all for his "soulmate"?!
Also, the narrator does it again! I'm going to have to go find some other work he done since this series is being removed from audible membership in the morning 🥺
Also, the narrator does it again! I'm going to have to go find some other work he done since this series is being removed from audible membership in the morning 🥺
May 7, 2020
What can I say? Nobody, but nobody, does the killer's voice quite like Ross Greenwood. The Soul Killer is the second of his DI Barton series. I read the first, The Snow Killer, last year and loved it. I am delighted to say that this series just goes from strength to strength with The Soul Killer giving the Snow Killer a run for his money in terms of chills, thrills and spills.
Well - where to begin? I've already mentioned the killer's voice and I want to stick with that for a moment. Ross has two narrative strands - the ongoing police investigation and the killers inner thoughts and actions. The way in which we have access to the killer's motivations, his actions and his views just helps to ratchet up the tension. But, what is even more chilling is the backstory that Greenwood provides for this character. Reading the sections written from his point of view was a rollercoaster of dread, sympathy, horror and complete gobsmackedness (yeah, I know that'snot really a word, but who cares). Greenwood must have spent some seriously long hours in the head of this chilling murderer. What made it more tense was that although we know so much about the killer we're not 100% sure who he is ... and then the clues start to drip in and the thrill factor accelerates.
In terms of Barton and his team of officers - I really love the interplay between the detectives. I love Barton's 'normality'. He's not an alcoholic. He doesn't always put the job first and he is a team player. The friendships within the team, made me invested in the investigation.
The Soul Killer is a gritty read, no doubt about that. It's also a very human read. I flew through it, loving every minute. Greenwood's characterisation makes you invest in the story all the more and even if you don't like your reads too gritty - (there was one scene that really made me blanche - in a good way) - I think the adept plotting and characterisation will make you love this ... I know I did.
Well - where to begin? I've already mentioned the killer's voice and I want to stick with that for a moment. Ross has two narrative strands - the ongoing police investigation and the killers inner thoughts and actions. The way in which we have access to the killer's motivations, his actions and his views just helps to ratchet up the tension. But, what is even more chilling is the backstory that Greenwood provides for this character. Reading the sections written from his point of view was a rollercoaster of dread, sympathy, horror and complete gobsmackedness (yeah, I know that'snot really a word, but who cares). Greenwood must have spent some seriously long hours in the head of this chilling murderer. What made it more tense was that although we know so much about the killer we're not 100% sure who he is ... and then the clues start to drip in and the thrill factor accelerates.
In terms of Barton and his team of officers - I really love the interplay between the detectives. I love Barton's 'normality'. He's not an alcoholic. He doesn't always put the job first and he is a team player. The friendships within the team, made me invested in the investigation.
The Soul Killer is a gritty read, no doubt about that. It's also a very human read. I flew through it, loving every minute. Greenwood's characterisation makes you invest in the story all the more and even if you don't like your reads too gritty - (there was one scene that really made me blanche - in a good way) - I think the adept plotting and characterisation will make you love this ... I know I did.
April 29, 2020
Ross Greenwood proved his mettle in writing police procedurals by giving another solid story. The author had a deft hand at giving me the creepiest of villains. This one had no soul.
A child misled by the mother, a few deaths and dual POV made this a chilling read. Another evil antagonist the cops DI Barton and his team had to battle against who continued to baffle them initially. This one had an added twist which neither the cops nor I saw it coming.
The chapters nearly alternated between the Soul Killer and DI Barton which gave me the complete view of the crimes from all angles. The story was quite slow and long winding which did reveal the killer mid way, and all that remained was a cat and mouse chase between the two.
A well plotted book which showed the family life of the cop and killer, the stroy kept me entertained over a lazy evening.
A child misled by the mother, a few deaths and dual POV made this a chilling read. Another evil antagonist the cops DI Barton and his team had to battle against who continued to baffle them initially. This one had an added twist which neither the cops nor I saw it coming.
The chapters nearly alternated between the Soul Killer and DI Barton which gave me the complete view of the crimes from all angles. The story was quite slow and long winding which did reveal the killer mid way, and all that remained was a cat and mouse chase between the two.
A well plotted book which showed the family life of the cop and killer, the stroy kept me entertained over a lazy evening.
July 27, 2022
The Soul Killer by Ross Greenwood is book 2 of the DI Barton series and I liked it even more than the first book! Rather like an episode of Criminal Minds, you know who the killer is and have a viewpoint from them the entire time. The other main viewpoint is DI Barton (obvi), so the reader is simply watching as the cops work the case and this creates quite a police procedural (which I love). I usually prefer when there is some kind of surprise or twist in a story, but I'm oddly addicted to this series. The book is quite pacy, and it's really interesting getting to know the killer's mind as well as getting to know our MC, DI Barton.
The audiobook is narrated by David Thorpe, and he has a really unique narration style. He's a bit of a fast talker, but at the same time has plenty of pauses so I ended up turning the narration up to over a 3x speed, which isn't super normal for me. At this speed, he's still got plenty of pauses, but the other parts of his narration are pretty quick. It really creates an odd listening experience that you have to hear for yourself. Despite this, I do enjoy him as a narrator, and I love his voice! Another unique thing about this series is that the chapter title of the viewpoint of the killer is the name of the book, so in this case, it was "The Soul Killer" as opposed to his actual name. Things ended with quite a bang just as they did in the first book, and I loved the nonstop action at the very end. So, who should read this book? If you are a fan of police procedurals with plenty of action but not necessarily any surprises, I would recommend this series. And bonus, they really can be read as standalones.
The audiobook is narrated by David Thorpe, and he has a really unique narration style. He's a bit of a fast talker, but at the same time has plenty of pauses so I ended up turning the narration up to over a 3x speed, which isn't super normal for me. At this speed, he's still got plenty of pauses, but the other parts of his narration are pretty quick. It really creates an odd listening experience that you have to hear for yourself. Despite this, I do enjoy him as a narrator, and I love his voice! Another unique thing about this series is that the chapter title of the viewpoint of the killer is the name of the book, so in this case, it was "The Soul Killer" as opposed to his actual name. Things ended with quite a bang just as they did in the first book, and I loved the nonstop action at the very end. So, who should read this book? If you are a fan of police procedurals with plenty of action but not necessarily any surprises, I would recommend this series. And bonus, they really can be read as standalones.
May 5, 2020
Plot
Well firstly Ross Greenwood has done it again, I read the first book in the DI Barton series ' The Snow Killer' is it without a doubt amazing.
DI John Barton and his team, when a family has a devastating suicide of there father who was gravely ill with cancer. And they can not accept that he committed suicide, unfortunately, with no suspicious circumstances. The case is closed. Then another person is killed in the family. Plus DI Barton is called to yet another scene of skeleton remains.
The plot is incredibly dark, gritty, and absolutely exceedingly enthralling and extraordinary. You can't get much gritter or as soul-sucking as this killer. Ross has crafted one crazy sick mother f×cker (But, I thought that about 'The Snow Killer'). This author truly gets better and better. The story is told from DI Barton and The Soul Killer's point of view alternating with each chapter.
5 star rating
Characters
DI John Barton is a brilliant, stand-out, kind and interesting character. I love that Greenwood gives a very good glimpse into his and his families life. He has a supportive family and you can truly understand how much he loves his family. Which is quite refreshing amongst the dark bits of this book.
His team are equally as awesome and I love their light-hearted jokes while there working.
The Soul Killer is honestly destructive, creepy, dark, but at the same time seems quite ordinary. He undoubtedly has had an awful childhood with a horrible, crazed religious mother and relentless bullying. I did feel a little empathy for him due to the above.
5 star rating
Writing
Greenwood has created yet another cracking, disturbing, explosive crime thriller. It was certainly a unique way of writing this book and it has paid off tenfold. It is simply a page-turner with ingenious twists and turns, razor-sharp and distinctively tension-filled.
5 star rating
Pacing
This started of slow-paced but quickly turned into an addictive tension-filled book that doesn't let you go.
5 star rating
Cover
Bright, eye-catching and striking.
5 star rating
Overall Thoughts
A cracking, disturbing, explosive crime thriller. A page-turner with ingenious twists and turns. Razor-sharp, distinctive and addictively tension-filled. A slow-paced start with a thoroughly sensational steady velocity. With a stand-out, brilliant family loving detective and his team. The Killer is one creepy, dark, disturbing crazy sick mother-f×cker.
Well firstly Ross Greenwood has done it again, I read the first book in the DI Barton series ' The Snow Killer' is it without a doubt amazing.
DI John Barton and his team, when a family has a devastating suicide of there father who was gravely ill with cancer. And they can not accept that he committed suicide, unfortunately, with no suspicious circumstances. The case is closed. Then another person is killed in the family. Plus DI Barton is called to yet another scene of skeleton remains.
The plot is incredibly dark, gritty, and absolutely exceedingly enthralling and extraordinary. You can't get much gritter or as soul-sucking as this killer. Ross has crafted one crazy sick mother f×cker (But, I thought that about 'The Snow Killer'). This author truly gets better and better. The story is told from DI Barton and The Soul Killer's point of view alternating with each chapter.
5 star rating
Characters
DI John Barton is a brilliant, stand-out, kind and interesting character. I love that Greenwood gives a very good glimpse into his and his families life. He has a supportive family and you can truly understand how much he loves his family. Which is quite refreshing amongst the dark bits of this book.
His team are equally as awesome and I love their light-hearted jokes while there working.
The Soul Killer is honestly destructive, creepy, dark, but at the same time seems quite ordinary. He undoubtedly has had an awful childhood with a horrible, crazed religious mother and relentless bullying. I did feel a little empathy for him due to the above.
5 star rating
Writing
Greenwood has created yet another cracking, disturbing, explosive crime thriller. It was certainly a unique way of writing this book and it has paid off tenfold. It is simply a page-turner with ingenious twists and turns, razor-sharp and distinctively tension-filled.
5 star rating
Pacing
This started of slow-paced but quickly turned into an addictive tension-filled book that doesn't let you go.
5 star rating
Cover
Bright, eye-catching and striking.
5 star rating
Overall Thoughts
A cracking, disturbing, explosive crime thriller. A page-turner with ingenious twists and turns. Razor-sharp, distinctive and addictively tension-filled. A slow-paced start with a thoroughly sensational steady velocity. With a stand-out, brilliant family loving detective and his team. The Killer is one creepy, dark, disturbing crazy sick mother-f×cker.
April 6, 2022
This was book 2 in the
"DI Barton"
series. In this book we get to see another side of DI and his team as they investigate another serial killer this one is more dangerous than the other not only for his belief that he is doing the right thing, but for the fact that all of his brutal crimes have come away looking like something else. A robbery gone wrong, a suicide, an accidental drowning. These violent acts go unconnected allowing this twisted sick individual to operate right under their noses. Until at last the victim they never intended to kill is found, prompting the murder investigation where the pieced eventually start to come together unraveling his carefully laid plans. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling and the narration was good. I am looking forward to reading and listening to the next book in this series.
May 1, 2020
I had three reasons for deciding to read this book, which were:-
1. The author Ross Greenwood is local to me, and I love to support local authors whenever I can.
2. The location or majority of it was based in my home town of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
3. The blurb for the book sounded brilliant and enticing, so how could I not want to read it. Plus I'd read and enjoyed book 1 The Snow Killer.
So now to the story itself, I found myself pretty much gripped throughout having been drawn in and captivated from the very first chapter.
I liked how the story was told from two character perspectives, that of the Police Detective and that of the Soul Killer. It really adds depth to the story and gives a true real insight into the individual characters, although I'm not sure how good an idea it is to get into the head of the killer lol.
As I said above, the location of the story is mainly based in Peterborough, so for me that added extra enjoyment to the story, getting to read about places/buildings that I actaully know and/or been too for real. I'm just glad this killer was strictly fictional, as some of the killings literally gave me the chills.
Overall I enjoyed the story and how it all turned out, it was gritty, gruesome in places especially one particular scene and relatively fast paced. However, there was one part of the story's outcome that I didn't like and when it happened, I was like No no no, so I was a little sad by that. But with that said, I thought the ending was good, and totally didn't see it coming.
I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be a book 3 or not, fingers crossed there will be.
1. The author Ross Greenwood is local to me, and I love to support local authors whenever I can.
2. The location or majority of it was based in my home town of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
3. The blurb for the book sounded brilliant and enticing, so how could I not want to read it. Plus I'd read and enjoyed book 1 The Snow Killer.
So now to the story itself, I found myself pretty much gripped throughout having been drawn in and captivated from the very first chapter.
I liked how the story was told from two character perspectives, that of the Police Detective and that of the Soul Killer. It really adds depth to the story and gives a true real insight into the individual characters, although I'm not sure how good an idea it is to get into the head of the killer lol.
As I said above, the location of the story is mainly based in Peterborough, so for me that added extra enjoyment to the story, getting to read about places/buildings that I actaully know and/or been too for real. I'm just glad this killer was strictly fictional, as some of the killings literally gave me the chills.
Overall I enjoyed the story and how it all turned out, it was gritty, gruesome in places especially one particular scene and relatively fast paced. However, there was one part of the story's outcome that I didn't like and when it happened, I was like No no no, so I was a little sad by that. But with that said, I thought the ending was good, and totally didn't see it coming.
I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be a book 3 or not, fingers crossed there will be.
May 7, 2020
The second in the DI Barton Series, this is so much more than your ordinary crime thriller, it starts where a young boy is living with his controlling mother who is deeply religious, although she doesn't show the boy any love or kindness and bullies him relentlessly. It is bound to have a profound effect on him as he grows up, making him a loner and some would say weird and unapproachable, he craves love and a normal life, he will stop at nothing to achieve his dream. When he meets someone he wants her all to himself and this is when the killings start, he is very clever and Barton and the team have their work cut out as what seems like a tragic suicide is anything but. I loved this book from the beginning to the last page.
June 27, 2025
Reread 07/2023 review- 3.5 stars? Oddly enough, I think I like the first one better now.
Original 01/2022 review- 3.8 stars. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book!! Also, having the dual POV’s, with one of them being the antagonist, it actually kind of made it a little difficult for me to root for the protagonist in this. Granted, I didn’t want the antagonist to keep on as he was, but neither did I want the protagonist to catch him.
The only thing stopping me from rating this higher is the awful harmful stereotyping of the antagonist’s gay neighbor’s boyfriend, it was in my opinion the worst stereotype [not sure if that’s the correct word or not] (🤢🤮). It was, quite disappointing & angering. Especially considering the LGBTQ acceptance/okayness in book 1 & book 3 (yes, I read this series completely out of order😆)
Original 01/2022 review- 3.8 stars. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book!! Also, having the dual POV’s, with one of them being the antagonist, it actually kind of made it a little difficult for me to root for the protagonist in this. Granted, I didn’t want the antagonist to keep on as he was, but neither did I want the protagonist to catch him.
The only thing stopping me from rating this higher is the awful harmful stereotyping of the antagonist’s gay neighbor’s boyfriend, it was in my opinion the worst stereotype [not sure if that’s the correct word or not] (🤢🤮). It was, quite disappointing & angering. Especially considering the LGBTQ acceptance/okayness in book 1 & book 3 (yes, I read this series completely out of order😆)
October 3, 2020
Repent in this life...rejoice in the next...
Having not read the first in the DI Barton series I wasn't sure what to expect from THE SOUL KILLER by Ross Greenwood. But I needn't have worried because, while readers are fully kept up to speed from the previous book, what I got was a police procedural of a different kind. We get perspectives from both DI Barton and the killer, making THE SOUL KILLER an edge of your seat crime thriller.
The story opens with the first several chapters from the killer's perspective as he details his unpleasant childhood and abusive delusional mother whose overt religious views simply confused him as a child. As the story progresses, these views are later twisted to rationalise his bloodlust for killing all who stood in his way. The reader can almost feel sorry for him for the childhood he had that shaped the man he became.
As the years progress up to the present day, we meet the woman he believes to be his soul mate. For him, nothing will stand in his way. But he feels her slipping away and he must put a stop to that. After all, they are destined to be together - in the here and now, and in the afterlife. His biggest obstacle is her father who is already dying of lung cancer and had but weeks to live. Maybe the illness has become too much and he can no longer bear to live in such pain. Maybe taking his own life is the answer. Be the master of your own fate, so to speak.
But when his twin daughters - one of which is the killer's girlfriend Claudia - arrive on Christmas morning to find their father hanging from the banister, they immediately suspect foul play. Their father would never have killed himself. But after careful examination and the post mortem, all evidence is consistent with suicide.
Then there is sister's husband, Malcolm. He too has always hated Claudia's boyfriend. And while the sisters grieve together, he and Claudia remain apart no doubt with Malcolm adding his two cents worth. He'll have to go as well. So is it just by pure coincidence he happens upon Malcolm along the dark bike path late one night after a few bevvies with the lads. A sneer here, a snide remark there...and POW! Malcolm falls down the embankment and into the river. Of course he considered helping him, especially after Malcolm's cries pleading "I can't swim!" but no...he will only continue to come between him and Claudia. He has to go.
Naturally, he assumes Claudia will be on the phone to him and he will rush to her side to comfort her. So why is it everything seems to be against him? Even as a child, he didn't stand a chance. But as an adult, he's played it a lot cleverer...and still, it doesn't seem to be good enough. So when his neighbour continues to play music at full volume consistently every day, he's had enough. And he loses control...and makes a mistake...
Then there is DI John Barton. Still reeling after the snow killers case that claimed one of their own, Barton is now burying his good mate Ginger. Along with his team DS Zander, DS Strange, DCs Whitlam and Malik and a couple of new members, Barton heads up the Major Crimes squad under the watchful eye of new DCI Cox. On Christmas morning, they are called to a suicide soon followed by the disappearance of the man's son-in-law a few weeks later. It seems bad luck appears to be following this family.
But it's not until the discovery of human skeletal remains are found in a compost heap of an allotment, that the team begin to sink their teeth into what is clearly a murder. But the bodycount doesn't stop there...and the team begin to wonder if they have a very cleaver serial killer on their hands.
Told from the killer's and Barton's alternating perspectives, THE SOUL KILLER is an exceptional read. There is no real mystery as to who the killer is although the reader doesn't discover his actual identity until about halfway through. And you wonder, so where to go from here? Well, there is plenty more to come on this rollercoaster ride that is sure to give you whiplash as Barton and the team chase down leads and follow up enquiries in the hope that the "soul killer" doesn't get the chance to outsmart them.
I love DI Barton and his family. It makes a refreshing change that he is a stable family man as well as senior investigating officer instead of being the stereotypical boozed up divorced detective. The banter and camaraderie of the team makes for a lively lot.
Although THE SOUL KILLER is the second in the series, it does read easily as a standalone. As well as having enough recap to keep the reader informed as to what went on before. I haven't read "The Snow Killer" but no doubt starting from the beginning is always advisable when reading a series but again, this does suffice as a standalone.
The finale, when it comes, was unexpected. Because given then build up, I had expected something entirely different. But it was still a satisfying conclusion.
A unique style in crime thrillers, THE SOUL KILLER is perfect for fans of gritty fast paced police procedurals that give you something extra, like Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Angela Marsons.
I would like to thank #RossGreenwood, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheSoulKiller in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Having not read the first in the DI Barton series I wasn't sure what to expect from THE SOUL KILLER by Ross Greenwood. But I needn't have worried because, while readers are fully kept up to speed from the previous book, what I got was a police procedural of a different kind. We get perspectives from both DI Barton and the killer, making THE SOUL KILLER an edge of your seat crime thriller.
The story opens with the first several chapters from the killer's perspective as he details his unpleasant childhood and abusive delusional mother whose overt religious views simply confused him as a child. As the story progresses, these views are later twisted to rationalise his bloodlust for killing all who stood in his way. The reader can almost feel sorry for him for the childhood he had that shaped the man he became.
As the years progress up to the present day, we meet the woman he believes to be his soul mate. For him, nothing will stand in his way. But he feels her slipping away and he must put a stop to that. After all, they are destined to be together - in the here and now, and in the afterlife. His biggest obstacle is her father who is already dying of lung cancer and had but weeks to live. Maybe the illness has become too much and he can no longer bear to live in such pain. Maybe taking his own life is the answer. Be the master of your own fate, so to speak.
But when his twin daughters - one of which is the killer's girlfriend Claudia - arrive on Christmas morning to find their father hanging from the banister, they immediately suspect foul play. Their father would never have killed himself. But after careful examination and the post mortem, all evidence is consistent with suicide.
Then there is sister's husband, Malcolm. He too has always hated Claudia's boyfriend. And while the sisters grieve together, he and Claudia remain apart no doubt with Malcolm adding his two cents worth. He'll have to go as well. So is it just by pure coincidence he happens upon Malcolm along the dark bike path late one night after a few bevvies with the lads. A sneer here, a snide remark there...and POW! Malcolm falls down the embankment and into the river. Of course he considered helping him, especially after Malcolm's cries pleading "I can't swim!" but no...he will only continue to come between him and Claudia. He has to go.
Naturally, he assumes Claudia will be on the phone to him and he will rush to her side to comfort her. So why is it everything seems to be against him? Even as a child, he didn't stand a chance. But as an adult, he's played it a lot cleverer...and still, it doesn't seem to be good enough. So when his neighbour continues to play music at full volume consistently every day, he's had enough. And he loses control...and makes a mistake...
Then there is DI John Barton. Still reeling after the snow killers case that claimed one of their own, Barton is now burying his good mate Ginger. Along with his team DS Zander, DS Strange, DCs Whitlam and Malik and a couple of new members, Barton heads up the Major Crimes squad under the watchful eye of new DCI Cox. On Christmas morning, they are called to a suicide soon followed by the disappearance of the man's son-in-law a few weeks later. It seems bad luck appears to be following this family.
But it's not until the discovery of human skeletal remains are found in a compost heap of an allotment, that the team begin to sink their teeth into what is clearly a murder. But the bodycount doesn't stop there...and the team begin to wonder if they have a very cleaver serial killer on their hands.
Told from the killer's and Barton's alternating perspectives, THE SOUL KILLER is an exceptional read. There is no real mystery as to who the killer is although the reader doesn't discover his actual identity until about halfway through. And you wonder, so where to go from here? Well, there is plenty more to come on this rollercoaster ride that is sure to give you whiplash as Barton and the team chase down leads and follow up enquiries in the hope that the "soul killer" doesn't get the chance to outsmart them.
I love DI Barton and his family. It makes a refreshing change that he is a stable family man as well as senior investigating officer instead of being the stereotypical boozed up divorced detective. The banter and camaraderie of the team makes for a lively lot.
Although THE SOUL KILLER is the second in the series, it does read easily as a standalone. As well as having enough recap to keep the reader informed as to what went on before. I haven't read "The Snow Killer" but no doubt starting from the beginning is always advisable when reading a series but again, this does suffice as a standalone.
The finale, when it comes, was unexpected. Because given then build up, I had expected something entirely different. But it was still a satisfying conclusion.
A unique style in crime thrillers, THE SOUL KILLER is perfect for fans of gritty fast paced police procedurals that give you something extra, like Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Angela Marsons.
I would like to thank #RossGreenwood, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheSoulKiller in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 30, 2021
Really liked the first one but this was a bit of a mess. Way too long at the expense of believability. I still like the core characters and will read another in hopes this is an outlier but if the team of investigators is as clueless in future books as they were in this one, I'm not sure I could stand it.
April 20, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of The Soul Killer, the second novel to feature DI John Barton of the Peterborough Police.
There are a series of apparently accidental deaths in the Peterborough area but with nothing concrete to investigate until a buried skeleton is discovered.
This novel is narrated by two voices, DI John Barton and the unnamed Soul Killer with an emphasis on the latter. I must admit that I have zero interest in the thoughts and history of fictional serial killers, mostly because they tend to follow a well trodden path and offer little new or fresh. In this case a twisted religious mother raises a narcissistic psychopath. It is interesting at first to hear his voice but it get old and repetitive very quickly, especially as he’s not particularly ingenious or even a great planner.
I struggled with the first half of the novel as it is all about the killer and Barton twiddling his thumbs, writing off the murders as not in his area, suicide and accident in that order. The second half is more exciting as the investigation gets underway but the killer’s identity is revealed at the start of it so no more guessing and the novel becomes more of a cat and mouse game. I must admit though that a decompensating serial killer is not my idea of an interesting read.
On a more positive note the novel has a readable style and for readers who enjoy this kind of psychological thriller it has a high body count, an action packed finale and a thorough examination of the killer’s motivation.
There are a series of apparently accidental deaths in the Peterborough area but with nothing concrete to investigate until a buried skeleton is discovered.
This novel is narrated by two voices, DI John Barton and the unnamed Soul Killer with an emphasis on the latter. I must admit that I have zero interest in the thoughts and history of fictional serial killers, mostly because they tend to follow a well trodden path and offer little new or fresh. In this case a twisted religious mother raises a narcissistic psychopath. It is interesting at first to hear his voice but it get old and repetitive very quickly, especially as he’s not particularly ingenious or even a great planner.
I struggled with the first half of the novel as it is all about the killer and Barton twiddling his thumbs, writing off the murders as not in his area, suicide and accident in that order. The second half is more exciting as the investigation gets underway but the killer’s identity is revealed at the start of it so no more guessing and the novel becomes more of a cat and mouse game. I must admit though that a decompensating serial killer is not my idea of an interesting read.
On a more positive note the novel has a readable style and for readers who enjoy this kind of psychological thriller it has a high body count, an action packed finale and a thorough examination of the killer’s motivation.
May 13, 2020
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I thought that this book was excellent!
I loved the first book in this series so I couldn’t wait to read this one as soon as I saw that it was being released and I have to say that it was well worth the wait and more than met my expectations – and I love the book’s tagline!!
The plot was excellent, it was a very well-paced story and twists and turns to keep me on my toes and I loved that something happened in every chapter. I loved guessing where the story was going and how it would end!
The characters were excellent, well developed and I really liked getting to know them too as the book progressed. The author is one of my firm favourites of this genre too so I always look forward to his next books.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, it was well written and a real page turner – very highly recommended!!
I thought that this book was excellent!
I loved the first book in this series so I couldn’t wait to read this one as soon as I saw that it was being released and I have to say that it was well worth the wait and more than met my expectations – and I love the book’s tagline!!
The plot was excellent, it was a very well-paced story and twists and turns to keep me on my toes and I loved that something happened in every chapter. I loved guessing where the story was going and how it would end!
The characters were excellent, well developed and I really liked getting to know them too as the book progressed. The author is one of my firm favourites of this genre too so I always look forward to his next books.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, it was well written and a real page turner – very highly recommended!!
August 9, 2022
This was the first book I’ve read of his and found it a good read I liked that it was also a fast paced read so I definitely will read the first and third books in the series
May 14, 2020
The Soul Killer is the second book in Ross Greenwoods D.I Barton series. The first being The Snow Killer, which was an explosive read in it's own right made me wonder exactly where the author could take this one.I needn't have worried. This book is even better. The story is told in two ways,we get to basically be inside the killers mind and we get to understand the reasoning. The other is the Police investigation thats ongoing throughout the book.We also learn a lot more of the killers history from his point of view and this helps to keep the tension increased as the horror builds with every sentence as we learn more and more! The very fact that we aren't certain who it is but the clues are being drip fed to us throughout the narrative.
D.I Barton and his team are tasked with investigating a suicide that the family are adamant wasn't and as events unfold the team have no time to lose. D.I Barton and the team have such good banter and are a great team, they work well together, specially when the pressure is on!
The characters are all well written to the degree that you invest in them and are swept into the story with all the horror, chills and suspense that comes with the narrative and then the unexpected twist that is shocking in itself as well. With thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an Advance Copy of the book.
D.I Barton and his team are tasked with investigating a suicide that the family are adamant wasn't and as events unfold the team have no time to lose. D.I Barton and the team have such good banter and are a great team, they work well together, specially when the pressure is on!
The characters are all well written to the degree that you invest in them and are swept into the story with all the horror, chills and suspense that comes with the narrative and then the unexpected twist that is shocking in itself as well. With thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an Advance Copy of the book.
April 18, 2020
Firsly, I was given this this book, and the previous one The Snow Killer, by a Facebook group of which I am a member.
I don't normally read thrillers and so these books are new territory for me. I really enjoyed the first book and was a bit worried that reading the second one would feel a bit like like revisiting old ground. I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the second one even more. Yes it is a crime thriller but there is no lingering on the violence, which is a relief. I loved the internal dialogue of the killer and I enjoyed the slight leading of the reader down the wrong path but was pleased that this did not go on for too long. I am really starting to like and enjoy the characters of Barton, Holly, Zander and Strange, together with the minor characters of Mortis and Sirena.
I don't want to give away spoilers but I am really looking forward to seeing these minor characters develop as well.
I have already recommended both books to friends.
I don't normally read thrillers and so these books are new territory for me. I really enjoyed the first book and was a bit worried that reading the second one would feel a bit like like revisiting old ground. I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the second one even more. Yes it is a crime thriller but there is no lingering on the violence, which is a relief. I loved the internal dialogue of the killer and I enjoyed the slight leading of the reader down the wrong path but was pleased that this did not go on for too long. I am really starting to like and enjoy the characters of Barton, Holly, Zander and Strange, together with the minor characters of Mortis and Sirena.
I don't want to give away spoilers but I am really looking forward to seeing these minor characters develop as well.
I have already recommended both books to friends.
May 11, 2020
The Soul Killer is told through the voice of a killer ..and through the eyes of D.I.Barton and his team ..What begins with an apparent suicide takes a much darker turning..For appearance and madness often cloak a dark soul ..One that is Twisted , Damaged and without fear..As the team gather evidence..the killer is always one step ahead..The killer holds all the hands in this game of Life , Death and Rage....that will not stop...Ross Greenwoods darkest read..Dark Raw and Chilling ..The Soul Killer will bite into your soul ..
April 24, 2020
A great fictional look into the mind of a psychopath. More info on the blog tour
May 10, 2020
Wow, this second instalment of the John Barton books is a beauty! I read the first one in the series, The Snow Killer, and was impressed by the twists and turns. This book can be read as a standalone but why not do yourself a favour and read The Snow Killer first - it will give you a bit of background and is a terrific book in its own right.
This book is written from the POV of John Barton as well as the killer. It doesn't sound like it could work, knowing who the killer is, early on, but it does. How the police hone in on the killer and what the killer does to throw them off the scent, is masterful.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
This book is written from the POV of John Barton as well as the killer. It doesn't sound like it could work, knowing who the killer is, early on, but it does. How the police hone in on the killer and what the killer does to throw them off the scent, is masterful.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
May 5, 2020
The story is told by both the killer and DI John Barton, who is leading the investigation. As book two, it is easily read as a stand alone and investigates the murders which appear initially to be suicides but they all have a link and about a third of the way through we find out who that is however the police don't know and are no nearer finding a killer. The murderer has had many issues in his past which are now having dire results as an adult and so off he goes annihilating those who do him wrong! As we know who he is, the strength of the book is seeing how he literally gets away with murder whilst being in constant contact with the police. It's not that they are being incompetent, just being steered in the wrong direction!
I enjoyed the book and read it easily over 2 days, wondering where the next twist would come and who would be next to die!
I read this novel as an ARC for my book club.
I enjoyed the book and read it easily over 2 days, wondering where the next twist would come and who would be next to die!
I read this novel as an ARC for my book club.
May 6, 2020
The soul killer by Ross Greenwood.
Di Barton is asked to help when suicide hits a happy family. They can't accept he would take his own life. Then comes another blow. A shocking accident when the remains of a man are found. There is an odd connection to the family. Can Barton find it and the killer?
Very good read although I found it slow to begin with but it soon picked up. Hope there is more to come. 4*.
Di Barton is asked to help when suicide hits a happy family. They can't accept he would take his own life. Then comes another blow. A shocking accident when the remains of a man are found. There is an odd connection to the family. Can Barton find it and the killer?
Very good read although I found it slow to begin with but it soon picked up. Hope there is more to come. 4*.
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